You and your partner go to see the film The House We Live In. You ask a friend to pick up your child from school. On your way home your phone rings. Your neighbor tells you he is standing at his window watching a menacing black guy casing both your homes. The guy is walking back and forth talking to himself and seems disturbed.

You tell your neighbor that your friend, whom he has met, is babysitting. He says, no, it's not him. He's met your friend and this isn't that nice young man. Anyway, he wants you to know, he's called the police.

Your partner calls your friend and asks him if there's a guy walking back and forth in front of your home. Your friend says that if anyone were outside he would see him because he is standing outside. You hear the sirens through the speaker phone.

Your friend is speaking to your neighbor when you arrive home. The four police cars are gone. Your neighbor has apologized to your friend and is now apologizing to you. Feeling somewhat responsible for the actions of your neighbor, you clumsily tell your friend that the next time he wants to talk on the phone he should just go in the backyard. He looks at you a long minute before saying he can speak on the phone wherever he wants. Yes, of course, you say. Yes, of course.

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*National Book Award Finalist

MUSICAL NOTES

This Sunday we celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King with guests Hope Foye and Linda Alvarez plus our Youth and Adult Choirs. Pianists are preparing for the Black and White Party – coming up on February 21st. This is definitely a dress-up affair. Attire may include fancy hats and tuxedos – certainly highly polished shoes! Finger food should be black and white as well. Chocolate should, like Darth Vader, be on the dark side. Tickets will be on sale soon. Thanks for all your love and support.

Keep Singing,
Severin

THIS JUST IN....
OFFICE VOLUNTEERS POOR PSYCHICS

Help PUC direct your contributions to the right account! Ensure your checks to PUC have a memo entry (lower left side of the check) so your money is used as intended (e.g. ‘Pledge’, 'Growth Fund', or 'Split Plate'). Checks without a memo are booked as a general contribution not a pledge payment. Cash intended for Pledge or Growth payments should be placed in an envelope with either Pledge or Growth written on the outside. Thank you for your generosity as we work to fulfill our mission of bringing healing and justice to our world.

UPDATE:
PRESCHOOL TASK FORCE

You may see some online ads, postcards or hear talk about the preschool. We are currently collecting information from the community to determine if there is interest. This is through Facebook, mailing postcards to targeted members of the RPV community and through word of mouth. No decisions have been made yet by the trustees - we will be presenting a final report on February 2nd and a decision will be made shortly thereafter. In the mean time, please let anyone who might be interested know that there is the possibility of a preschool happening at PUC and we are looking for interested families with children ages 3-5.

If you have questions you can look at the new page on the PUC web site, or please feel free to contact us, or flag us down on the patio! We would love to speak with you about what we're doing!

The last two sessions of No Excuses: Existentialism and the Meaning of Life class have been cancelled due to low enrollment. Stay tuned for after church classes in February.

WE CONTINUE TO SEEK COTTAGE PARTY HOSTS

The Stewardship Committee is looking for hosts for 10 Cottage Parties as part of this year’s annual pledge drive. These parties should take place sometime in late March or April, 2015. We would like to have some parties in the evening, some in the daytime, some with a family focus, or with focus on a common interest.

Each host provides this or her home along with appetizers and wine and soft drinks for 10-12 people. Both a trustee and a minister will attend each party and deliver the message on the campaign.

So if you are able to host one (or more) of these parties, please contact Gary Hart (garylhart@gmail.com) or Pam Harris (pamha@roadrunner.com), send an email to admin@pacificunitarian.org, or stop by the office and let the office volunteer know.

Donations to Guest at Your Table qualify for UUSC membership and can help PUC congregation achieve a special recognition award; gifts of $125 or more are eligible to be matched dollar for dollar through a grant from the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, N.Y.

There is a donation basket just inside the main sanctuary door. If you need help ask an usher for assistance.

Resurrection of a Much Needed Program

At one time PUC was accepting recyclables like batteries and printer cartridges, as well as being a collection point for prescription medications that require proper disposal. Social Justice is working to reinstate this program and is looking for volunteers to help. If this is a mission that speaks to you, please contact Naresh Deo at ndeo@earthlink.net.

On Sunday, January 18 South Bay Chamber Music Society presents Roger Wilkie, violin, John Walz, ‘cello, and Edith Orloff, piano as they perform Three Nocturnes by Ernest Block, Trio in C Minor, Op. 101 by Johannes Brahms, and Trio in E Minor, Op. 92 by Camille Saint-Saens.

There is no admission charge and all church members and friends of PUC are welcome. For additional information about South Bay Chamber Music Society, please consult their web site by clicking here.

WAYS WE GROW

Writing as a Spiritual Activity January 266:30 pm. to 8:00 p.m.-ish
PUC Library

Drop in any 2nd or 4th Monday evening at PUC to share writing time. We write for 30 minutes on whatever is on our mind or in our hearts, followed by the opportunity to share our writing and allow others to respond. Some food for thought will be available to get our pens moving. Drop-in. $2 donations accepted.

Bring paper or journal and pen!

Facilitator: Janet Steinberg

A BLOOMIN' GREAT YEAR

The 2015 Flower Calendar is posted on the door to the office. If there are special dates that you would to bring flowers to celebrate a special occasion or in memory of a loved one, now is your chance because the entire year is currently available.

We have an immediate need because we have no one scheduled to bring flowers on the last two weeks of January or most Sundays in February.

If you’re interested in bringing flowers you can sign up on the calendar which is posted on the door to the office or you can call the PUC office, (310) 378-9449, and leave a message.

In this inter generational service, Rev. John and Acting DRE and Intern Minister Krista Weber will lead all of us, young and old, into a journey towards justice in remembrance of Dr. King. There will be marching!

When the call for clergy leaders to come to the march on Selma came from Dr. King, dozens of Unitarian Universalists responded. Rev. John reflects on what we learned from our proclaimed authority as civil rights actors. What would we do if called upon today?

Rev. John Morehouse,
Lead Minister

Next Month Our Theme Will Be

EVIL

JOYS & CONCERNS

Come join friends in the PUC Library on Sunday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 and join the Joys and Sorrows Circle. The Circle gives a compassionate space for sharing and listening. Organized by Sandy McNeil.

§

To have your Joy or Concern appear here you may complete one of the Joys and Concerns slips in the back of the Hall and place it in the box, or send it directly tonewsletter@pacificunitarian.com.

HOSPITALITY

It takes many hands to make a Sunday. Special thanks to all of our volunteers!

Greeter:
TBD

Welcoming Trustee:John Einhorn

Welcome Table:
TBD

Ushers:
TBD

Top Chef:Andy Kissner

Office Volunteer:Naresh Deo

This Sunday's Flowers are brought to you by

no one volunteered, yet

Flowers in our sanctuary

can bring joy,

can be a way to share your celebration or memorial,

can be a focal point of meditation,

can be a point of relief from a long week.

Please sign up for your turn to bring Sunday's Flowers on the Flower Calendar inside the door of the PUC Office.

Next Open Dates:

January 18 & 25

TOWN HALLS &
CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS

Both Town Hall and Congregational Meetings are held in Henrickson Hall about half an hour after the end of the Sunday morning worship service. Members are encouraged to attend. Friends of the congregation as well as visitors are welcome to attend.